By Bilyamin Abdulmumin
The positive multiplier effect of industries on a community can never be overemphasized; with industries around, the sprouting population majority of which are unemployed youth basking in young age exuberance can be effectively engaged; because of the blockchain of economic activities industries have to offer, the purchasing power of society at large can be raised; ultimately, the lives of masses as we know them to become better.
Around 2014 or so one of the confidants to the governor of Kebbi State, the current chairman of Jega local government, Murtala Musa Habib told us how senator Atiku Bagudu has fancy for industrialization and showed his concern to the then government for not showing commitment towards the industrialization of the state. But I quickly dismissed the submission with a wave of a hand- at the time, considering it as merely a political statement.
As providence would have it, the ball became in the court of senator Atiku Bagudu when he succeeded the then governor Usman Nasamu Dakingari
So, without a second thought, I pitched my tent around the vision of industrialization in the state. I set industrialization as one of the major yardsticks through which I access the Kebbi State government. My scrutiny first began with the area of agriculture, given that Kebbi State is an agricultural hub even though (at the time) without much to write home about, thanks to the absence of processing plants in the state.
His Excellency, Senator Atiku Bagudu would be found to match words with actions as he facilitated the birth Of record processing plants across the state. These processing plants range from mega rice mills like Wacot to a host of other medium and small-scale processing plants. Because of the rice revolution, Kebbi State would become synonymous with rice across the country.
Some commentators, however, are skeptical about giving the government credit for the feat, they argue that it’s a private business, therefore according to them neither the state nor the federal government should be accredited with the development. But this argument can’t hold water if the coin is flipped, in order words if the other side of the situation is considered their argument is farfetched. Consider the scenario where the state or country’s economy is declining. Who is to blame? If the answer is the government then when the economy is found flourishing definitely the government deserves a pat on the back. Sometimes to make sense of a particular situation one has to look at it from both sides.
Another aspect of industrialization that I keep on the tab with the state government is the bioethanol production project, but first an overview
Nigeria has great potential in producing bioethanol as an alternative energy source. It can improve her GDP, reduce her carbon footprint, and for even greater profits, link the agricultural sector to the energy sector. These foreseeable benefits led to the release of Nigeria’s biofuel policy incentives. In addition, Nigeria has recently joined other nations at a meeting in Glasgow, Scotland in signing the agreement for global greenhouse gases mitigation commitments and agreeing to be carbon-neutral by 2060.
One of the promising ways of achieving the above-mentioned benefits is through the efficient production of renewable bioethanol as a source of energy. Therefore, it becomes imperative for his excellency, who has a penchant for industrialization to explore this golden opportunity
Again, Senator Atiku Bagudu would be found to keep up with his vision, as Kebbi state entered into an agreement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for the establishment of a bioethanol production plant in the state. Machinery is currently being installed, and about forty-seven (47) thousand hectares of cassava plantation are being cultivated as the raw materials for the processing plant. These are indeed the signs of commitment to the agreement.
However, the last development that has made me concede to the vision of his excellency for Kebbi State industrialization was the joint venture with the Dangote-Peugeot plant
Since industrialization has been my area of focus with regards to the assessment of the kebbi state government, as soon as I overheard Governor Nasir El-rufai’s speech (of Urban Renewal recently commissioned by president Buhari) mentioning Kebbi State among the shareholders I paused to get the details
Dangote-Peugeot Vehicle Assembly Plant was a joint venture, now a few months from the commission, in which Kaduna State and Kebbi State are shareholders.
Other industries and economic activities my curiosity took me to are the 20 billion GBfood tomato processing industry, SMSs champion by BOI, and Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development
My hope for the next coming government is not only to bring onboard new industries but ensure to maintain the ones that started such as rice, tomato, bioethanol, gold, sugar industrie
